What if 2020 is just the universe's extra time in the ball pit?

[rogueslayer452]

++ Sarah Z, one of my favorite video essayists, recently uploaded a video recounting and discussing the disaster that was Dashcon, the first and last Tumblr-based convention that happened back in 2014. Most will probably only know it from the infamous ball pit meme that circulated about, but there's a lot more that goes into it than just that. I already know most of what was mentioned, but seeing it all laid out in full detail of the event (before, during, and the aftermath), it's really more depressing than it is funny. This obviously wasn't the first or the last poorly planned convention to exist, but speaking as someone who was aware of this while it was going down it's just an interesting look at what went wrong and why this did, ultimately, change the way fandom on Tumblr operated. Because Sarah does briefly go into that, which I have to agree that the atmosphere did fundamentally change, whether it was from the convention itself or the way people reacted to the convention, it definitely made the harmless fun aspects of certain fandoms a little less fun. But that's a discussion for a whole other time.

Overall, while there have been people who covered this topic before I really liked Sarah's take on it, not only with a lot of research but also since others have unfortunately ended up, inadvertently or no, making fun of the young people who attended the convention, which is uncalled for. We can acknowledge the horrible dumpster fire that Dashcon was without turning to mock the teenagers who went. Which I find happens a lot whenever something deemed "cringey" happens and people want to feel better about themselves by mocking young people, usually teenage girls. So I'm happy that Sarah didn't do that and addressed the issue.

++ I don't particularly care for award shows, since we all know it's just a popularity contest anyway and the things that rightfully deserve to be recognized often are snubbed. With that being said, that doesn't mean that I'm not happy whenever something I like is nominated. With the Emmys recently announcing their nominations, I'm glad that The Mandalorian has been nominated multiple times (however the lack of recognition for Pedro Pascal is just blasphemous, imho), and I'm happy that Euphoria got some love as well, most notably Zendaya for best lead actress, because she absolutely deserves it.

Comments

Re: Okay, I watched

[honeymink]

The fact that Megg and Cain tried to pull this whole thing off a second time without Roxanne makes me suspicious. I figure maybe the first time it was legit but the second time it must have been a scam because honestly how can you even get up on stage and ask people for US$ 17,000 while lying about why you need it? And then not pay the Night Vale cast who has actually appeared at the con while people are waiting for them at the panel? It's unbelievable to me. It goes beyond screwing this up, I think. This is indeed fraudlent.

I wouldn't laugh at people who went. I mean this desire to get together and meet your internet friends? There's nothing wrong with it.

RE: Re: Okay, I watched

[author-by-night.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think you're right. I think I was projecting a bit since I have been on the end of "oh, sorry, we just couldn't be bothered." But while those cases were extremely annoying, little to no money was involved, and in the end it was more just a big disappointment, especially when expressing said annoyance was met with "WTF are you talking about, shut up." (Now that I'm the age of some those people, and still ten or fifteen years younger than others were, wow, what a charming way to treat a twenty year old.)

However, this was probably scam. They also made people wait hours for Night Vale despite having known for weeks they weren't coming. At most, maybe it didn't start out that way, but turned very scammy very quickly.

Yeah, I think the most I ever side-eyed younger fans was for Twilight, which I kind of regret now. And even that was more concern about Bella being a bad role model than mocking them as fans. Also, just making fun of Twilight in general, which I regret now. I don't know, it's weird to me how much energy I put into making fun of a YA book series that was never written for me. One of my friends even gently pointed that out.

Re: Okay, I watched

[honeymink]

It was my impression that Night Vale was there but that they went away while the audience was waiting because they didn't get paid. One of the other panelist (some anime voice actor?) who lost their room slept on their couch. It was the band (Steam Powered Giraffe?) that they had booked initially acutally said in January that wouldn't appear but I think they never clarified would not come after all. And they didn't refund people the extra money for Meet & Greet tickets.

Thinking back about my fandom behaviour... not sure, I guess twenty years ago I was overly invested in "Roswell" for a hot minute and hated the main ship because it turned so unhealthy and co-dependent. That's something I generally despair of when toxic relationships are romantized but these days I just suffer quietly.

RE: Re: Okay, I watched

[author-by-night.livejournal.com]

Ohh, right. That makes a bit more sense, but still crummy and sketchy of the con. Really, the more I looked at it, the more I think they were just classic scammers. Especially given Cain's apparent reputation. (As Sarah Z said, this is hearsay, but it does add up quite perfectly.)

I never got into the popular ships in my fandoms, but that's because I tended to ship things I saw as being close to canon - really I called myself a "canon shipper," but I have issues with the term now as I used it. For example, I called Ron/Hermione a canon ship despite it not really being a canon ship at that point. I still think there were ginormous indications,* but how did I know they'd stay together? That one of them wouldn't be killed off, or that they'd just break up?


*Sorry.